Luke Humphries’ Costly Counting Error Hands Luke Littler the Advantage in Nottingham
A rare counting mistake proved to be Luke Humphries’ downfall during his Premier League Darts clash against Luke Littler in Nottingham. The two top-ranked players went head-to-head in the opening match of Night 6, with Littler securing a 6-4 victory over the world No. 1 to continue his stellar form.
The match began as a closely contested battle, with both players exchanging legs and staying level at 4-4. However, the turning point came in the eighth leg, where Humphries made a crucial miscalculation that opened the door for Littler.
Humphries’ Costly Mistake
Leading 4-3, Humphries had 265 left after three visits to the board. His first dart of the next visit landed in treble 20, but instead of setting up a finish, he miscalculated—his next two darts only found single 20s, leaving him stuck on 165, a bogey number with no checkout available.
Sensing an opportunity, Littler pounced, responding with a perfect 180, piling the pressure on his opponent. Unlike Humphries, ‘The Nuke’ had positioned himself perfectly with 164 remaining, a finishable number.
Littler’s Brilliant 164 Checkout
With a chance to level the match, Littler delivered a spectacular checkout, hitting:
- Treble 20
- Treble 18
- Bullseye
As the dart landed in the center of the board, Humphries let out a deep sigh, fully aware of his costly mistake. Littler’s stunning finish turned the momentum in his favor, and he rode that wave to win the next two legs and seal a 6-4 victory.
A Rivalry for the Ages
The clash was yet another thrilling chapter in what is quickly becoming the biggest rivalry in darts. Former world champion John Part praised both players on Sky Sports, saying:
“They’re one and two in the world, the past two world champions, and they’re playing like it. Certainly, Luke Littler, with that magnificent streak at the UK Open and his win in Belgium at the weekend, has been unstoppable.”
With the victory, Littler moves level on points with Humphries at the top of the Premier League standings, setting the stage for an even more intense battle as the season progresses.
